Smiths Interconnect announced today the superior performance and suitability of the KA Series connector family, as a result of rigorous testing at the Centre of Excellence laboratory in Kansas City, KS.
 
The KA Series has gained its reputation for reliability under a variety of extreme environmental conditions, supporting high current rating, low contact resistance and minimal insertion and extraction forces while resisting high shock and vibration environment. Now, it has been confirmed that the 0.6mm contacts are able to handle far greater current without detrimental temperature rises (less than 30°C rise).

Here are some examples of the new current carrying capability tests:

• ​1 contact can handle 9 Amps
• 2 adjacent contacts can take 6.5 Amps each
• 4 adjacent contacts can each comfortably carry 5.4 Amps

Previously shock-tested to Military (MIL-DTL-55302) specifications, the KA has now been further tested for shock and vibration to the very high standards of the European Space Agency (ESCC 3401). The impressive power-to-size ratio and ruggedness are made possible thanks to Smiths Interconnect’s Hypertac® hyperboloid contact design: the three-dimensional symmetry of this configuration guarantees electrical continuity regardless of the demanding conditions.
 
This design is also what contains the insertion/extraction force to an average of 1oz per contact in tests, increasing our connectors’ mating cycle life rating by 10-fold that of competitive products.
 
“The technological capabilities and flexibility of the KA Series has long enabled it to provide a significant edge in military, aerospace, and commercial aviation applications” said Mark Kelleher, Vice President and General Manager of the Connector Business Unit at Smiths Interconnect. “Now, with the enhanced rating, we have demonstrated its suitability for use in  the most demanding of environments where performance, safety and reliability are essential."
 

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